Tennant Discusses International Voting Summit Live From Germany Via Skype

3/18/2010

Charleston, W.Va. -- Using the webcasting program Skype, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant appeared on several television stations Thursday night discussing the 2010 Overseas Vote Foundation's UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) Summit in Munich, Germany.

Tennant is representing West Virginia at the summit, which will feature other Secretaries of State as well as representatives from the Pew Center on the States and the U.S. State Department.

The interviews appeared on West Virginia Media Holdings stations statewide. Jack Kane of WOWK-TV in Charleston conducted the interview.

Using only a laptop and a webcam Tennant was able to talk live with Kane. Normally, a satellite shot from Germany would be very costly, but Skype is free.

Tennant delivered a presentation on West Virginia's online voting pilot program for military and overseas voters. Five counties - Jackson, Kanawha, Marshall, Monongalia, and Wood - are participating in the pilot program.

Thursday's live Skype interview was a first for the Secretary of State's office, but not the first time the internet has been used to help make government more open and engaging. Tennant's office also webcast several hours of the final day of candidate filing in January. More than 1,200 people watched that webcast.